Cancer patients experience many complications that cause nutritional problems due to their illness or as side effects of treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation). These include:
Unwanted weight gain
Causes:
Sometimes, due to the side effects of certain tumors or medications used in treatment, a child’s appetite may increase, leading them to constantly ask for food, which results in weight gain.
At other times, a child’s weight gain may be due to certain medications that cause water retention in the body.
Lack of physical activity combined with an increase in the amount of food offered to the child.
In this case, we should:
Increase the amount of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes in provided meals.
Choose low-fat meats and poultry, as well as low-fat dairy products.
Avoid fried foods and heavy dishes, and don’t add butter, ghee, mayonnaise, sugar, honey, or coconut to the food.
Reduce high-calorie snacks and replace them with vegetables or fruits.
Steer clear of soft drinks, sweets, and chocolate.
Gradually increase physical activity as much as possible.